Replaceable unit ceiling construction



Nov. 3, 1936; R V,'PA'R$'ON$ 2,059,483

REPLACEABLE UNIT CEILING CONSTRUCTION Filed Dec. 24, 1931 2 Sheets-Sheet l gsmzxmmx V v INVENTQR R qym and V. Parsons.

ATTORNEY Nov. 3, 1936. R. v. PARSONS REPLACEABLE UNIT CEILING CONSTRUCTION Filed Dec. 24, 1931 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Whi INVENTOR R aymond If Parsons.

ATTORNEY Patented Nov. 3, 1936 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

REPLACEABLE UNIT CEILING CONSTRUCTION Application December 24, 1931, Serial No. 583,043

8 .Claims.

This invention relates to a multiple unit interior finish construction, and more particularly to such a construction in which units of fire-resistant material are used. The invention pertains especially to a replaceable unit ceiling of a building in which panels are supported in a novel manner, as by a bracket'clip.

An object of the invention is to provide a unit assembly, particularly suitable for use in the celling of a building, that is readily assembled from standard parts that may be factory sized and finished.

Another object is to provide a ceiling with accessible space behind manually removable units of finishing material.

Another object is to provide a ceiling or other wall construction in which panels of different thicknesses may be interspersed or substituted one for another, without altering the appearance of regularity or contour of the exposed surface.

A further object of the invention is to provide fastening means adapted to permit the convenient remo'val'of a panel at any position in the ceiling structure Without damage to the panel removed.

Another object is to provide fastening means for adjustably securing panels in place in a multiple unit ceiling in such manner that undesired lack of alignment in the positions in which the fastening members are secured to the supporting superstructure of the wall is not imparted necessarily to the positions of the panels of finishing material associated with said fastening means.

In the construction of buildings, particularly ofilce buildings, it is important to secure flexibility of internal arrangement. Thus, it is frequently desirable to have access to electrical conduits or piping between the ceiling and the overlying fioor, which, in a plastered building may require destruction of the plaster finish. Further, it is desirable to minimize the amount of plastering to be done in the construction of a building originally, because of the expense of plastering and the many inconveniences, such as the necessity of extensive cleaning after the completion of a job of plastering.

The present invention provides means of minimizing these and many other disadvantages of plastered ceilings.

A preferred embodiment of the invention is illustrated in the drawings in which Fig. 1 shows a perspective view of a channel or modified T bar suitable for use as a support in furred ceiling construction.

Fig. 2 shows a perspective view of a pair of bracket clips placed back to back, ready for insertion in the channel bar of Fig. 1.

Fig. 3 shows a perspective of a fastening device adapted to be engaged between the twoclips shown in Fig. 2.

Figs. 4 and 41) show perspective views of modifications of the fastening device of Fig. 3.

Fig. 5 shows a perspective View of a partially completed assembly of the elements shown separately in Figs. 1, 2, and 3, with the narrow clips yieldably engaged in the groove between the web members of the channel bar.

Fig. 6 shows a perspective view of an assemblage comprising a channel bar, angle iron clips, and a fastening device engaging units of building material between the base of the angle ironlclips and the head of the fastening device.

Fig. 7 shows a structure, partly disassembled, in which there is a modification of the means of supporting units of finishing material.

Fig. 8 shows a similar assembly, in completed form, in which there is a further modification of the supporting means. I

Fig. 9 is a perspective sectional view of a ceiling assembly including the supporting superstructure.

Fig. 10 shows a cross-sectional view of a. detail of the ceiling assembly and illustrates the means whereby a relatively thin unit of finishing material may be used in association with a relatively thick unit, without alteration of the contour or regularity of the exposed surface.

Fig. 11 shows a perspective view of a modification in which the panel of finishing material is reenforced or stiffened by rearwardly disposed angle irons.

In the various figures like reference characters refer to like parts. Thus, in the channel bar, i represents the base portion, 2 the two oppositely disposed web members or spring sides, suitably converging, 3 the longitudinal beads or ribs therein extending outwardly, forming the groove a, and 5 the flaring lips adapted to aid the ready insertion between them of the fastening devices.

The brackets or clips comprise a Web portion with transverse head or rib 6, adapted to be engaged or interlocked in the groove l of the channel bar and a flanged or base portion extending approximately at a right angle from the beaded portion and to one side only thereof and adapted to limit the movement of or to support a unit of facing or finishing material II. The brackets are made narrow, say about three-fourths of one inch wide, to facilitate insertion into the groove of the T bar and are independent of, that is, not integral with the panels.

The backs of the engaged portions of two single clips, constituting a pair, contact with each other and assist in maintaining the alignment of the clips. The beaded portions of the clips and the groove defined therebetween are accessible from the front and adapted, therefore, to receive a fasber may be single, as indicated in Fig. 3, and attached to the head by a Y-connection or by welding directly to the head (not shown). Also, the prong may be double, as shown in Fig. 4, with a head or rib in each part, the beads or ribs extending outwardly and being adapted to be yieldably engaged in the groove formed by the beads 6, of the brackets. The leg member is adapted to be inserted in the space between adjacent units of finishing material and between the backs of two adjacent brackets.

A modification of the fastening device is illustrated in Fig. 4b in which the irregularity of the surface of the bracket, adapted to become engaged in the groove in a channel bar, takes the form of the lug or projection 9b.

The manner of assembly is indicated in several of the figures. It may be inferred from Figs. 1, 2, and 3 which show the units disassembled. Fig. 5 shows the units partly assembled. Fig. 6 shows a complete assembly of the channel bar with two oppositely disposed bracket clips, the units of finishing material II, and the fastening device. It will be observed that the two bracket clips are placed back to back, with the beads in the ribbed portion of each forming a groove which, in the assembly, is yieldably engaged in the groove formed by the oppositely disposed and converging resilient web members of the channel bar, and that there is placed against the flanged portion of each bracket clip a corner of a unit of finishing material which is then supported in position between the flanged portion of the clip and the head In of the fastening device, the prong member of the fastener being inserted through the space l2 and pushed home between the edges of adjacent units of finishing material and between the backs of a pair of clips, so that the rib on the fastening device becomes engaged in the groove formed by the beads in the two clips.

A modification of the means of anchoring the units of finishing material is shown in Fig. '7, in which modification the flanged portion of the bracket clip has an end provided with the groove l4 adapted to be engaged adjustably with the head of a pin l3, the other end of which pin is firmly secured, as by riveting or embedding, in the unit of finishing material. This engagement is desirable in that the bracket is thus caused to limit the movement of the finishing material, not only in a direction towards the channel bar, as is the case in the assembly illustrated in Fig. 6, but also in a direction away from the channel bar. The adjustability of the engagement between the bracket and the unit of finishing material makes possible the slipping of the panel or unit of finishing material sidewise in such a manner that irregularities in the alignment of the channel bar in a building construction can be offset by the position of the unit of finishing material with respect to the bracket engaged in the channel bar.

Another modification of the assembly is illustrated in Fig. 8. Here the bracket is firmly secured to the unit of building material by the union I5, as, for example, an eyelet, pin, or rivet having a portion secured to a unit of finishing material and an end protruding through the hole IS in the base of the bracket and engaged therein.

Fig. 9 shows in perspective a section of a complete ceiling assembled in accordance with the present invention. The assembly includes the structural floor of the building l'l, wires or rods l8 supporting the furred ceiling construction, metal angle bars or other furring sections I 9, normally used on 4-ft. centers to support lighter metal members 2|. The lighter members, in this instance, are channel beams of the type illustrated in detail in Fig. 1 and are supported by the stirrups 20 which secure the channel beams removably to the furring angles. The finishing unit ll, suitably a compressed composition comprising Portland cement and asbestos or other fire-proof material, is attached to the channel beams 2| by means of brackets (illustrated in detail in Figs. 2, 5-8, and 10). If desired, the panels Il may be replaced in whole or in part by thicker panels comprising sound-absorbing or heat-insulating material, such as a combination of a perforated cement asbestos board 22 with a backing of mineral wool or other light, porous, permeable, and preferably fire-proof material 23. A section of such a structure is shown in detail in Fig. 10.

The method of making a ceiling assembly in accordance with the present invention should be obvious from the illustrative examples that have been given. The channel bars or other holding sections are clipped or otherwise secured, preferably in such manner that they may be easily removed, to the supporting metal members, such as the angle bars shown in Fig. 9. The brackets are then inserted by pushing the edge of the beaded portion between the flaring lips adapted to render the insertion easy, and the brackets are then pushed into the channel bar until the ridge formed by the beading becomes engaged in the rounded groove 4 between the converging, oppositely disposed spring web members of the channel bar. When two brackets are inserted, back to back, the beading in the-two clips forms a rounded groove between themselves also in which latter groove a fastening device, such as illustrated in Figs. 3, 4, and 412, may be engaged, if desired. The brackets are placed in the channel bars at selected positions, suitably those corresponding approximately to the corners of units of facing or finishing material later to be applied. The units of facing or finishing material are then brought into positions against and outside the fianged portion of the brackets. Unless the units are provided with unions for engagement with the brackets, as illustrated in Figs. 7 and 8, or in case it is desired for architectural or other effects to have a means of support on the outside of such units, the fastening device with beaded or ribbed prong and rosette or other pattern of head is thrust home between the two brackets, as indicated in Fig. 6, in such manner that the head of the fastening device extends over the space left between the adjacent units of finishing material and limits the movement of these units in a direction away from the brackets or channel bar. It will be understood that in the finished assembly the head of the fastening member or the rosette may cover the adjacent corners of four units of finishing material, also that the units of finishing material may be slipped between the base of the brackets and the head of the fastening device after the latter are in place.

If it is desired, the units of finishing material may be held in position with the edges just below the lips of the web members of the channel bar and the brackets then inserted in such manner that the beaded portion becomes engaged in the groove in the channel bar and the flanged portion extends over the outer face of the unit of finishing material, in such manner as to support the unit above the flanged or base portion of the bracket. The edges of the units of finishing material may be beveled, as at l3b, for architectural effect.

The space between adjacent units of finishing material, as between the beveled edges, l3b, may be closed, if desired. For example, the space may be closed by a batten strip, such as one of stainless steel provided with a ribbed web member engaged by a heading between the backs of brackets held in the groove between the web members of the channel bar. Also, the space between the adjacent units of finishing material may be filled with a caulking material, such as mortar or cement. However, such caulking decreases the convenience of making the original assembly or disassembling the wall and is not preferred for ceiling constructions which may have to be altered occasionally or through which ready access to the space between the ceiling and the floor above is desired.

While the invention has been described particularly as applied to and is preferred for ceiling construction, it will be understood that it may be applied in certain embodiments to a side wall construction, especially if a strong construction is not necessary. In such side wall construction, means are provided for limiting the movement of the brackets along the grooves in the channel bars and the units of finishing material (and also the movement of the fastening devices, if the latter are used, with respect to the brackets). The movement of the brackets along the groove in the channel bar may be limited, for example, by spot-welding them to the bar or by inserting a pin or other stop through the web members of the channel bar and through the brackets. The movement of the units of finishing material with respect to the brackets may be limited, as illustrated in Fig. 8, by the firm attachment of the units to the brackets.

The panels or units of facing or finishing material may consist of asbestos and cement, metal, insulating board, or other material. The panels may be rigid, imperforate, and of any convenient size, as, for example, 16 x 16, 12 x 12, 12 x 24, 16 x 32 or 24 x 48 inches or even larger. When it is desired to use panels so large that the tendency to buckle or sag between. the points of support becomes important, reenforcement may be resorted to. Fig. 11 illustrates a means of preventing buckling or distortion of large panels, as for example, panels 16 x 32, 24 x 24, 24 x 48 or 36 x 36 inches. In this figure there are shown angle iron bars with heels or legs 24 and upstanding parts 25. The bars are united to the corner of the unit of finishing material H by unions 15 which unions may be also engaged in the flanged portions of the brackets with transverse ribs 6. The angle bar reenforcements are also secured to the unit of finishing material by fastenings 26, which may be, for example, pins, rivets or eyelets at positions other than a. corner of the unit.

Since it is often desirable to replace all or part of a ceiling by sound-absorbing material, as when noisy equipment is placed under such a ceiling, it is very desirable that the ceiling construction should be adapted to the insertion of units of sound-absorbing material. For example, it may be desirable to intersperse panels of soundabsorbing material with less expensive units or to replace such less expensive units largely or entirely by sound-absorbing panels. For this reason, the invention provides a spaced relationship between the inner surface of thin units of finishing material and the channel bar, adapted to the ready substitution of the finishing material by a thick panel or to the lining of a thin panel with a layer of other material. Thus, a thin panel may be substituted by a thick one, as for example, a unit with a closely perforated hard outer face and a porous lining material, such as mineralwool, or a permeable light-weight ceramic product. The substitution of such panels 'of soundwabsorbing material according to the present invention preserves the regularity of contour of the outer surface of the finished wall or ceiling construction. Adjacent thin and thick panels will have their outer surfaces in the same plane. The flanged portion of the bracket clip may be inserted within the thick panel in such manner that the clip is just as far from the outer surface of the panel as would be the case if the panel were as thin as adjacent panels and the clip were behind the back surface of the latter panels. Or, the extra thickness of the substituted panels may be cut away at the position where the clip is in engagement with or limits the movement of the panel, as for example, at the corner of the panel; since the clip is relatively narrow, that is,

does not extend for a great distance along the panel in the direction of either the length or breadth of the panel, the amount of backing material which may be cut away to make room for the base portion of the clip is not a large proportion, of the total of said material used.

Another advantage of the present invention is the facility of removing one or more units of the construction. Thus, it is necessary only to remove manually the bracket clips and the fastening device (if such a fastening device has been used) and thus remove a unit of finishing material. In the assembly illustrated in Fig. 6, the unit may simply be allowed to drop away from the construction after the fastening device has been pulled out. In the construction illustrated in Figs. 7 and 8, the unit may be pulled out along with the engaged clips. In any case, all the materials are available for reuse. Also, the channel bars may be removed by loosening the metal clips or other means which hold them to the angle bar supports, and these materials, in turn, are available for reuse.

The present construction should be distinguished from those in which it is necessary to destroy one or more panels, to obtain access to space behind the ceiling finish, and from those in which a perforated unit is attached, as by means of nails or screws extending through the unit, to a studding behind the unit.

The details that have been given are for the purpose of illustration, not restriction, and variations therefrom may be made within the scope of the appended claims,

What I claim is:

1. In a ceiling including a supporting superstructure and units of finishing material, the improvement comprising in combination a channel bar, a base of the channel bar removably attached to the superstructure, two oppositely disposed spring web members of said channel bar provided with outwardly extending longitudinal beads forming a rounded groove between the web members, and a bracket provided with a beaded portion yieldably engaged in the groove between the web members, provided also with a fiange portion extending to one side only of the said beaded portion and at substantially a right angle thereto, and adjustably engaging the rear portion of a unit of the finishing material.

2. In a ceiling including a supporting superstructure and units of finishing material, the improvement comprising in combination a channel bar attached to the superstructure, two oppositely disposed spring web members of said channel bar provided with outwardly extending longitudinal beads forming a groove between the web members, a bracket clip provided with a beaded portion yieldably engaged in the groove between the web members and provided also with a flange portion extending substantially at right angles from the beaded portion and having a grooved end, and a union having a portion thereof secured to a unit of finishing material and a protruding end engaged in the said groove of the bracket clip.

3, In a ceiling including a supporting superstructure and units of finishing material, the improvement comprising in combination a channel bar removably attached to the superstructure, two oppositely disposed spring web members of said channel bar provided with outwardly extending longitudinal beads forming a groove between the web members, a clip provided with a beaded portion yieldably engaged. in the groove between the web members and provided also with a flange portion extending substantially at right angles from the beaded portion and limiting the movement of a unit of the finishing material in a direction towards the superstructure, and a fastening device consisting of a beaded prong member yieldably engaged in the beaded portion of the clip and of a relatively fiat head portion limiting the movement of a unit of finishing material in a direction away from the superstructure.

4. In a multiple unit ceiling construction including replaceable units offinishing material of regular outer surface, a supporting superstructure, and bracket clips securedat one endto the superstructure and at the other end provided with a flange securing the units removably to said superstructure, the improvement comprising a spaced relationship between the units and the superstructure and means for varying the distances between the said flanges and the back of the unit whereby the flanges are maintained at equal distances from the faces of the units and units of different thickness may be substituted readily one for another, with preservation of the contour of the outer surface.

5. A replaceable unit ceiling construction comprising in combination a supporting superstructure, channel bars supported by the superstructure, two converging web members per channel bar, said members provided with longitudinal beads adapted to form a groove between the said beads, narrow clips having a transversely beaded portion engaged in thegroove between the web members of the channel bar, a base portion of the clips extending substantially at a right angle from the beaded portion, units of finishing material disposed over the base portion of the clips and limited thereby as to movement towards the channel bars, and a fasteningdevice having a beaded prong member inserted between units of finishing material and between the backs of two adjacent clips and engaged in the beaded portion of the clips and a head member extending over an outer edge of a unit of finishing material and limiting the movement of the unit in a direction away from the base portion of the clips.

6. A multiple unit ceiling comprising rigid panels, a supporting super-structure, a channel bar with beaded web members defining a groove therebetween, means securing the said bar to the super-structure, and bracket clips interlocked in pairs in the said groove, assisting in maintaining the alignment of each other and limiting the movement of the panels.

7. A multiple unit ceiling assembly comprising a floor of a building, a supporting structure, means for suspending the supporting structure from the said fioor, in spaced relationship to all parts of the floor, units of finishing material, d1s continuous means in the form of wire for securing the units of finishing material to the said structure to form a ceiling assembly provided with a continuous readily accessible .space between the units of finishing material and the supporting floor above.

8. In a ceiling including a supporting superstructure and units of finishing material, the improvement comprising in combination a channel bar attached to the superstructure, reeniorcing bars secured to the back portions of the said units, two oppositely disposed spring web members of the channel bar provided with longitudinally extending beads forming a groove there between, independent bracket clips provided each with a beaded portion yieldably engaged in the said groove and provided also with a flange portion extending to one side only of the said beaded portion and engaging the rear portion of a unit of the finishing material, the beaded portions of the clips being accessible from the front.

RAYMOND V. PARSONS. 

